Recovery of tax which escaped payment

Where by reason of the whole or any portion of the tax which would have been payable in respect of any motor vehicle under this Act for any period has not been paid, the licensing officer may, at any time, within a period of five years from the expiry of the period to which the tax relates, and after issuing a notice to the registered owner or the person having possession or control of the motor vehicle and making such inquiry as he may consider necessary, direct the registered owner or other person to pay the whole or any portion of such tax, which has not been paid: Provided that in computing the period of five years for the purpose of this section, the period or periods, if any, during which the collection of such tax has been stayed by an order of any court shall be excluded.